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Monday, July 22, 2013

Full Moon Tonight Is July 2013 SUPER MOON

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida -- There will be a Full Moon
tonight on July 22, 2013 at 2:16 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time - but not just any Full Moon, it is a Super Moon that is also known as a Thunder Moon or Buck Moon. The Moon will be 99.4% full on that day.The moonrise over the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's east coast does not occur until around 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (with a few minutes deviation depending on your exact location.) The moon will set around 7:30 a.m. on the morning of July 23, 2013.

For
those planning a stroll along the beach to watch the Full Moon, the
Full Moon brings along with it a 4-foot plus high tide that will occur around
8:22 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, with a few minutes of variation
depending on your exact location.

Why is it also called a Thunder Moon or Buck Moon?

These moon names are associated with seasonal occurrences that happen in July. Male deer, known as bucks, begin to sprout their antlers which is why it is called a Buck Moon. Thunder Moon gets its name from the summer thunderstorms that happen in July.

What's so special about this July 2013 Super Moon?

The July 2013 Super Moon will not be as close or bright as the Super Moon in June. This Thunder Super Moon will appear more than 12% larger and 26% brighter than normal Full Moons.

There is however, a chance for some coloring of this Full Moon because the Moon is rising just as the sun is setting. Scattered light in the Earth's atmosphere from the sunset could make this Full Moon appear pink, light purple, or orange.

According to NASA, a Super Moon occurs because the Moon is in an elliptical orbit around the Earth. When the Moon is closest, it is at its orbital perigee, which is why a Super Moon is also known as a Perigee Moon. When is the best time to watch the Super Moon?

As the video below explains, low hanging moons near the horizon appear larger to humans. So the Super Moon will appear biggest to the naked eye on the U.S east coast during and just after the moonrise around 8 p.m. on July 22.If you live in a different time zones, the time would be the nearly same in your local time if you are on Daylight Savings Times plus or minus a few minutes. For example, the moon will rise on July 22, 2013 in:

Houston, Texas at 8:14 p.m. Central Daylight Time

Denver Colorado at 8:10 PM Mountain Daylight Time

Los Angeles, California at 7:55 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Where is the best place to watch the Super Moon?

The Super Moon will be visible around the world. The best place to watch is wherever the viewer has a good view of the horizon, lack of artificial lighting, and no local cloud cover.